Ancestral Species: Mute Swan Future Species: River Swan Latin Name:Cygnus atratus Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Cygnus Species: C. atratus
Habitat
Black swans are generally found throughout Australia except for in the Cape York Peninsula. They are more commonly found in the southern parts of Australia than the north. They have been known to have spread to neighboring countries of Australia such New Zealand in which they are commonly found there. The black swan have also spread to New Guinea and are now much more commonly seen than before.
In the migration to New Zealand, the black swans adapted to the environments and developed a subspecies known as the New Zealand Swan. This resulted in the extinction of the new sub species. In 1864, the Australian black swan were introduced into New Zealand and populate on large coastal lakes of New Zealand. Natural migration to New Zealand also occurred but most of the population of black swans in New Zealand are intentional introductions. Black Swans were also introduced in Western parts of Europe as ornamental waterbirds, but the population is not self-sustaining. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust have recorded a maximum of nine breeding pairs in the United Kingdom.
The Black Swan typically prefers salt waterways but also live in fresh waterways. They also are spread to permanent wetlands. The black swans require areas with up to forty meters of clear water in order to take flight. They also be found on dry land to feed on land vegetation and bugs but are poor and clumsy at moving on land.
Black swans are very nomadic and move in no specific migratory pattern. They move accordingly to the weather and have opportunistic responses to rainfall or droughts. The black swans emigrate inland from the south-east and west during periods of high rainfall. In drier years, the black swans reverse and immigrate back to the south-eastern and western areas. During mating seasons, they tend to settle onto large open waters as the moult after breeding and are unable to fly for about a month.
ADAPTATIONS
Behavioral - Temper/Nature
Black Swans tend to be ill tempered and territorial. They will attack humans and other birds, including other swans, that enter their pond or stretch except their own young or mate. This behavioral adaptation arose due to previous cases of territorial conflicts and other swans poaching young swans as their own due to inability to breed or personal losses of their own young.
Behavioral - Shifts in Posture
Black Swans shift their postures to communicate with other swans and letting them know it is about to take flight. By stretching their necks, black swans allow other swans to know that it is about to take off. This signals to other swans to move and give adequate space for the swan to take off. This behavioral adaptation was introduced so that black swans had enough space to successfully get into the in areas with less space to fully allow them to take off. Swans that do not get enough space may run into other surrounding objects or swans and may injure others and itself including young offspring.
Structural - Long Neck
The black swan has a long neck. This structural adaptation allows the black swan to reach algae and other vegetation such as seaweed below the surface of the water. It also allows the swan to catch small insects that may fly around. The long neck also has about 22 to 25 vertebrae which allows the neck to be flexible and bend to make signals and lets the swan easily duck its head into the water. This adaptation came due to rising water levels and lack of taller underwater vegetation.
Structural - Webbed feet
The black swan has webbed feet like other waterfowl birds such as geese. With this adaptation they can maneuver around on the water easily and push off the water during take off. This adaptation occurred to allow black swans to swim and float on the water and environmental factors include increased underwater predators. The webbed feet allowed them to move faster and get off the water quicker.
Physiological - Moulting
Like the Wandering Albatross and Little Penguin, Black Swans moult as well. Once a year, the black swan moults its feathers in order to grow new feathers and get rid of old, worn out feathers that may be dead or damaged. This process prevents them from flying for a month, but allows then to shed broken feathers and fly safely. This physiological adaptation occurs because of harsh conditions the black swan may face when flying and occurs during the summer also as a method to cool down.
The Black Swan
Ancestral Species: Mute Swan
Future Species: River Swan
Latin Name: Cygnus atratus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Cygnus
Species: C. atratus
Habitat
Black swans are generally found throughout Australia except for in the Cape York Peninsula. They are more commonly found in the southern parts of Australia than the north. They have been known to have spread to neighboring countries of Australia such New Zealand in which they are commonly found there. The black swan have also spread to New Guinea and are now much more commonly seen than before.
In the migration to New Zealand, the black swans adapted to the environments and developed a subspecies known as the New Zealand Swan. This resulted in the extinction of the new sub species. In 1864, the Australian black swan were introduced into New Zealand and populate on large coastal lakes of New Zealand. Natural migration to New Zealand also occurred but most of the population of black swans in New Zealand are intentional introductions. Black Swans were also introduced in Western parts of Europe as ornamental waterbirds, but the population is not self-sustaining. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust have recorded a maximum of nine breeding pairs in the United Kingdom.
The Black Swan typically prefers salt waterways but also live in fresh waterways. They also are spread to permanent wetlands. The black swans require areas with up to forty meters of clear water in order to take flight. They also be found on dry land to feed on land vegetation and bugs but are poor and clumsy at moving on land.
Black swans are very nomadic and move in no specific migratory pattern. They move accordingly to the weather and have opportunistic responses to rainfall or droughts. The black swans emigrate inland from the south-east and west during periods of high rainfall. In drier years, the black swans reverse and immigrate back to the south-eastern and western areas. During mating seasons, they tend to settle onto large open waters as the moult after breeding and are unable to fly for about a month.
ADAPTATIONS
Behavioral - Temper/Nature
Black Swans tend to be ill tempered and territorial. They will attack humans and other birds, including other swans, that enter their pond or stretch except their own young or mate. This behavioral adaptation arose due to previous cases of territorial conflicts and other swans poaching young swans as their own due to inability to breed or personal losses of their own young.
Behavioral - Shifts in Posture
Black Swans shift their postures to communicate with other swans and letting them know it is about to take flight. By stretching their necks, black swans allow other swans to know that it is about to take off. This signals to other swans to move and give adequate space for the swan to take off. This behavioral adaptation was introduced so that black swans had enough space to successfully get into the in areas with less space to fully allow them to take off. Swans that do not get enough space may run into other surrounding objects or swans and may injure others and itself including young offspring.
Structural - Long Neck
The black swan has a long neck. This structural adaptation allows the black swan to reach algae and other vegetation such as seaweed below the surface of the water. It also allows the swan to catch small insects that may fly around. The long neck also has about 22 to 25 vertebrae which allows the neck to be flexible and bend to make signals and lets the swan easily duck its head into the water. This adaptation came due to rising water levels and lack of taller underwater vegetation.
Structural - Webbed feet
The black swan has webbed feet like other waterfowl birds such as geese. With this adaptation they can maneuver around on the water easily and push off the water during take off. This adaptation occurred to allow black swans to swim and float on the water and environmental factors include increased underwater predators. The webbed feet allowed them to move faster and get off the water quicker.
Physiological - Moulting
Like the Wandering Albatross and Little Penguin, Black Swans moult as well. Once a year, the black swan moults its feathers in order to grow new feathers and get rid of old, worn out feathers that may be dead or damaged. This process prevents them from flying for a month, but allows then to shed broken feathers and fly safely. This physiological adaptation occurs because of harsh conditions the black swan may face when flying and occurs during the summer also as a method to cool down.
Bibliography
Honolulu Zoo. (2008). Black Swan.
Retrieved on Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 from http://www.honoluluzoo.org/black_swan.htm
Avian Web. (2010) Black Swans.
Retrieved on Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 from http://www.avianweb.com/blackswans.html